2024 Altador Cup Tournament

Player Interviews

For the third consecutive year, some interviews with players were published in the Editorial of the Neopian Times during the Cup.

Tyrra Tamina

QUICK QUESTIONS

Altador Cup Quick Questions is back! This is a segment in which brief interviews are held with a select few Altador Cup players to give insight into the preparations they put into the sport, team dynamics, their lives outside of the Cup and anything else they feel like sharing with us in the few quick moments we are able to talk with them! These interviews were held right before the start of the games so that the players could stay focused throughout the tournament! With that said, we will be kicking things off with the Captain of the newest team to be added to the Altador Cup, Tyrra Tamina from Team Dacardia!

Interviewer: “First off thank you so much for joining me! Our readers are avidly awaiting news of Team Dacardia for their big debut. It will be nice to finally see you in the arena!”

Tyrra: “Oh my gosh, yeah, it’s been a long time coming! Sorry I’m so nervous. I keep thinking this is a dream, and that I’ll wake up and something else will have happened to keep us away. Two years in a row – please don’t be three!”

Interviewer: “That’s right, you were supposed to debut two years ago. Can you elaborate on that? What kept your team away from the Cup for so long?”

Tyrra: “It’s not a happy story… You’ve probably heard about the huge storm that destroyed Dacardia. That was the first thing that stopped us from coming to the Altador Cup; we decided to stay home and help rebuild. Friends and family were more important than fame and glory. Things were going well… There was still a lot to do but we were in a good enough position that my team and I felt confident going to the Altador Cup. But then…”

Interviewer: “I heard there was an injury on your team. Was that what stopped you from competing last year?”

Tyrra: “Yeah. I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit it was me who got injured… I tripped and fell over a Crabby-bot when I was getting omelettes for my teammates. We had been hard at work building a new Neohome and I wanted to treat everyone to a nice lunch…”

Interviewer: “Can’t practice on an empty stomach! But you’re all healed up now and ready to play, right? Can you tell us a little bit about Team Dacardia’s strategy?”

Tyrra: “Well I can say we won’t be relying on my leg! But that’s okay, I’m a defender so I just need to stop the Yooyuball, not chase it. It’s still a bit of a damper on us as a whole though since our team has always relied on speed and agility. That’s why “Rowdy” Roo and Camila are our star players. But just because we’re fast doesn’t mean we’re fragile. You should see some of the dives Jarek’s done to keep the Yooyuball out of the net. I’m pretty sure that guy’s indestructible.”

Interviewer: “Sounds like you’ve got quite the range of strengths and weaknesses! Good luck to you all in your first ever Altador Cup.”

From Neopian Times, Issue #1014, published August 9, 2024

Ruffaele "Rowdy" Roo

For the next interview, we’re sticking with Team Dacardia and talking with the team’s left forward, Ruffaele “Rowdy” Roo!

Interviewer: “Thank you so much for joining me! Our readers are avidly awaiting news of Team Dacardia for their big debut. It will be nice to finally see you in the arena!”

Ruffaele: “It’s been a long time coming. Feels good to finally stretch my legs and run free in a new arena. And may I say that Altador is a real fine city. It’s so lively – I could really get used to being in a place like this.”

Interviewer: “Sounds like you’ve caught a bit of a travel bug, Mr. Roo!”

Ruffaele: “Please, call me Ruffaele. Or “Rowdy,” that’s what my teammates call me. ‘Mr. Roo’ makes it sound like I’m playing for Roo Island.”

Interviewer: “You don’t seem to like that. Do I sense a bit of rivalry brewing…?”

Ruffaele: “Nah, nothing like that. Roo Island is fun and all, I like the place and love the team, but I’m tired of getting mistaken for one of their players! I’m Dacardian through-and-through!”

Interviewer: “No need to raise your voice, Mr– Rowdy.”

Ruffaele: “Heh heh. Now you’re just teasing me. But that’s okay, I dig it. Will I get to see you in the stands cheering us on?”

Interviewer: “I’ll be in the stands, all right! But I can’t look too biased now…”

Ruffaele: *Laughs* “That’s okay, I know you’re a fan. And I’m a fan of yours now, too.”

Keep an eye out for our next round of Quick Questions, as we will be returning with more intriguing player interviews soon!

From Neopian Times, Issue #1014, published August 9, 2024

Aldric Beign

QUICK QUESTIONS

Welcome back to another round of Quick Questions! In this week's edition, we only had time for one interview, so we made sure to make it a hot one! Here is our talk with the Captain of Team Moltara, Aldric Beign!

Interviewer:“Hello, thank you for joining us. It’s very nice to meet you!”

Aldric: “The pleasure is all mine!”

Interviewer: “We heard the news about your goalkeeper, Harlis Neyhbol, getting engaged! Of course, we are happy for him, but is there any worry about his partner, Wila Benne, being on a competing team?”

Aldric: “None whatsoever. Harlis came to us from Team Tyrannia so he’s always had connections with them. In fact, to show there’s no tension, my husband and I threw them an engagement party in our garden!”

Interviewer: “That sounds lovely! May I ask, with so many of your team being, well on fire, how were you able to throw a party in a garden?”

Aldric: “Haha, that’s a fair question. It’s something my husband, Neeraj, knows how to deal with very well. You see he’s a Water Zafara, so he’s been finding creative ways to help the team and me our whole relationship!”

Interviewer: “Wow made of water and a passion for plants. It sounds like there must be many hurdles in your relationship!”

Aldric: “I wouldn’t call them hurdles! We each love finding ways to help the other with our abilities. I prep weekly meals with my own two hands as the heat source, so he can be full of energy to go out and grow the most beautiful of plants! He’s actually perfected the growth of fire-resistant plants! That’s his business! He works with wildlife experts and parks to help dampen the threat of wildfires!"

Interviewer: “Wow, you two sound like a real power couple!”

Aldric:: “Ha, I wouldn’t disagree!”

Interviewer: “I’m so sorry, that seems to be the end of our time. I apologise that we weren’t able to discuss more about your team and the coming Cup!”

Aldric:: “No need to apologise! I could talk about Neeraj all day! Here, you want to see a doodle he made of us?”

From Neopian Times, Issue #1015, published August 23, 2024